Method and apparatus for changing the rolls of a universal rolling mill



ug. y25, 'i970- H. BONNE-WAMP 35525524@ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE ROLLS A UNIVERSAL ROLLING MLL Filed Jan. ll, 1968 f 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. s'

j, VENTOR IN o HEINRICH BOHNENKAMP His ATTORNEY l ug- 25 w70 BOHNENKAMP 3,525,244

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE ROLLS OF A UNIVERSAL ROLLING MILL Filed Jan. ll, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR HEINRICH BOHNENKAMP HIS `ATTORNEY United States Patent O Int. Cl. zib 31/08 U.S. Cl. 72-238 2 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to changing the rolls of universal rolling mills by means of a support frame guided and retained in the windows of the roll housings and receiving between its vertical walls both the vertical rolls and the horizontal rolls, located on the same plane as the latter, together with their chocks.

If the mill schedule is to be changed, the currently employed support frame mounting the horizontal and vertical rolls must be run out of the universal rolling mill of lthe aforementioned type. This support frame is then exchanged for another that in the meantime was set up for the next size of stock to be reduced. When this new size of stock is being rolled the support frame in the run out position is set up in readiness for the next change of schedule.

In the past it was customary to transport the support frame to the roll changing station by means of a crane, Where rst the upper horizontal roll was lifted out, then the two vertical rolls were dismantled and, finally, the lower horizontal roll was lifted out. The rolls for the next item on the schedule were then installed by reversing the afore-described procedure.

It is fairly time-consuming to change the set-up of the support frame, some four to five hours being required to exchange the rolls for a change of schedule. A particular disadvantage has 2been that when a different size of stock is to be reduced the vertical rolls must be dismantled although they are not to be exchanged. As a rule, it is the horizontal rolls of the support frame set-up that need t0 be changed, and the vertical rolls are the same as previously used.

The object of this invention is to reduce the time required for changing the set-up of a support frame for a change of rolling schedule, when said support frame is in the run-out position and reduction of the current size stock is proceeding.

The invention is thus basically addressed to a method of changing the roll set-up of a universal mill that permits the horizontal rolls to be replaced without dismantling the vertical rolls.

The basic means of arriving at the desired solution consist of first placing the lower horizontal roll complete with chocks on the carriage, then positioning the support frame mounting the vertical rolls on the carriage, after which the upper horizontal roll is lowered into the support frame before the support frame resting on the carriage is traversed into the windows of the roll housings.

By enabling the vertical rolls to remain in position when changing the set-up of the support frame, the applicants method permits the time required for a change of rolling schedule to be substantially reduced. For the purpose of changing the mill schedule, namely, the invention provides for the support frame that has been run out of the universal mill for a change of set-up, and after the upper horizontal roll with its chocks has been picked out, to be lifted up with the vertical rolls from the carriage, leav- 3,525,244- Patented Aug. 25, 1970 ice ing the lower horizontal roll in position, and to he immediately set down on another, previously prepared carriage mounting a lower horizontal roll for the next size of stock to be reduced. All that remains to be done is for the new upper horizontal roll to be installed from above in the support frame, and the latter is then ready to be shifted into the operative position for the reduction of the next item on the mill schedule.

In most cases it will thus be possible, when the mill is in operation to complete the set-up of the support frame for running another schedule, because the time for changing the rolling in the support frame can be reduced to about an hour. Apart from a reduction in roll changing time, the invention offers a further substantial advantage of reducing the hook load on the crane employed for the roll changing work. Whereas in the past the support frame complete with rolls had to be hoisted, the invention permits the load to be divided into the upper horizontal roll, the support frame mounting the vertical rolls, and the lower horizontal roll. The applicant has made this possible by simple means, `by designing the support frame with openings at the top and bottom for installing the horizontal rolls.

These objects as well as other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows in detail a universal mill viewed in the direction of rolling, from which, for the sake of clarity the support frame mounting the horizontal and vertical rolls, has been traversed out of the roll housings.

FIG. 2 shows the side view, partly in section, of the universal mill depicted in FIG. 1.

Referring to these figures, the universal rolling mill 3 has two horizontal rolls 1 and two vertical rolls 2. With the aid of a carriage 9 a support frame 8 can be laterally traversed into the windows 6 of the two housings 7 comprising the roll stand 3. This support frame 8 accommodates both the horizontalrolls 1 with their chocks and, to the side thereof but on the same plane, the vertical rolls 2 with their chocks. A quick change in the production schedule is made possible in that all that has to be done is to traverse the support frame 8 laterally out of the windows in the housings 7 and to run in another, previously set-up support frame 8 for the next size of stock to be reduced, into the windows 6 of the housings 7 with the aid of a carriage 9.

After a support frame 8 has been run out of the mill stand 3 in preparation for a change in the size of the product to be rolled, the upper horizontal roll 1 together with its chocks is removed from the frame 8. After this the frame 8 together with the vertical rolls 2 and their chocks are lifted olf the carriage 9, leaving the lower horizontal roll 1 to be removed. Upon removing the lower roll, a substitute lower roll is placed on the carriage followed by the frame 8, including the original vertical rolls 2. All that then remains to be done is for the new upper horizontal roll 1 to be lowered into the support frame 8, and the set-up is thus completed for the new production run.

This astonishingly simple arrangement for changing the rolls in the support frame to enable a different size stock to be reduced is made possible, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, by designing the support frame 8 so that it is completely open at the top and bottom for installing the horizontal rolls 1. Therefore, to change the set-up of the support frame 8, that is to say, to dismantle and replace the horizontal rolls 1, no yokes, cross-beams or cross-bars of any kind have to be disconnected, as a result of which the times for changing the rolls for the production of a different size of stock can be substantially reduced.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that Within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a universal rolling mill having an upper and a lower horizontal roll 1) and a pair of vertical rolls (2),

a housing (7) having a window,

a frame (8) received in said window,

said frame (8) made up of spaced vertical walls between which are received and supporting said vertical rolls in their working positions, together with their bearing-chock assemblies, and having a support surface for the bearing-chock assemblies of said upper horizontal roll,

a carriage (9) constructed and arranged to move between a first position outside said window to a second position within said window and having a support surface for the bearing-chock assemblies of said lower horizontal roll,

said carriage (9) also having a support surface for said frame (8),

said frame having openings at its top and bottom for receiving the upper and lower horizontal rolls (1), respectively, in a manner that when in its said rst position, the lower horizontal roll is mounted on said carriage after which said frame with the vertical rolls is mounted on said carriage (9) and then said upper horizontal roll is mounted on said frame, and

4 means for moving said carriage together with sai frame and four rolls between said two positions. 2. A method of mounting the rolls of a universal mill to facilitate the quick assembly and disassembly of the horizontal rolls thereof, said mill having an upper horizontal roll and a lower horizontal roll and a pair of vertical rolls comprising the steps of:

arranging a carriage (9) to one side of said mill and directly in front of a window thereof, mounting said lower horizontal roll (1) with its bearing-chock assemblies on said carriage (9), mounting a frame (8) containing the pair of vertical rolls (2), including their bearing-checks assemblies, on said carriage (9) and over said lower horizontal roll (1), mounting said upper horizontal roll (1) with its bearing-chock assemblies in said frame (8) above said vertical rolls, said four rolls thus constituting a complete complement of rolls for the universal mill, and moving said carriage (9) with said complement of rolls into and out of a window of said mill.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner B. J. MUSTAIKIS, Assistant Examiner 

